![]() ![]() The fact that the study was conducted in an actual driving environment is important, the researchers say. Speed variance was also greater for texting drivers than for non-texting drivers. By slowing down, a driver gains more time to correct for driving errors (such as the tendency to swerve while texting). maintain a constant speed while texting, tending to slow down in an effort to reduce the demand of the multiple tasks.safely maintain their position in the driving lane when they were texting and their swerving was worse in the open sections of the course than in barreled sections.Major findings further documented the impairment of texting when compared to the controlled driving conditions. In addition to the reaction-time element, researchers also measured each driver’s ability to maintain proper lane position and a constant speed. Forty-two drivers between the ages of 16 and 54 participated in the research. The study, sponsored by the Southwest Region University Transportation Center, was managed by Christine Yager, an associate transportation researcher in TTI’s Center for Transportation Safety. The researchers say that the study findings extend to other driving distractions that involve reading or writing, such as checking e-mail or Facebook. Worse yet, drivers were more than 11 times more likely to miss the flashing light altogether when they were texting. Reaction times while texting, however, were at least three to four seconds. Reaction times with no texting activity were typically between one and two seconds. Throughout the test-track exercise, each participant’s reaction time to a periodic flashing light was recorded. Drivers first drove the course without texting, then repeated both lab tasks separately while driving through the course again. Each participant then navigated a test-track course involving both an open section and a section lined by construction barrels. First, participants typed a story of their choice (usually a simple fairy tale) and also read and answered questions related to another story, both on their smart phone in a laboratory setting. to examine texting while driving in an actual driving environment - consisted of three major steps. The study - the first published work in the U.S. The study reveals how the texting impairment is even greater than many experts believed, and demonstrates how texting drivers are less able to react to sudden roadway hazards. Researchers at the Texas Transportation Institute have determined that a driver’s reaction time is doubled when distracted by reading or sending a text message.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |